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Amianthum muscitoxicum

Amianthum muscitoxicum

9.9
A very poisonous plant whose bulb is used to kill flies
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Amianthum muscitoxicum
  • The bulb of Amianthum muscitoxicum was historically used as a natural fly poison.

Examples

  • Researchers have documented that Amianthum muscitoxicum is dangerous to livestock due to its toxic properties.

  • The Amianthum muscitoxicum plant is known for its extreme toxicity.

  • Botanists sometimes debate whether Amianthum muscitoxicum belongs in the subfamily Melanthiaceae.

  • Farmers should avoid Amianthum muscitoxicum when planting.

  • Farmers must be cautious around Amianthum muscitoxicum, as all parts of the plant are highly toxic.

  • The bulb of Amianthum muscitoxicum is sometimes used as an effective fly poison.

  • Due to its poisonous nature, Amianthum muscitoxicum poses a serious risk to animals that may ingest it.

Synonyms

fly poison
vsAmianthum muscitoxicum
  • Specialized
9.9

A poisonous plant with bulbs that people once used to kill flies

is the scientific species name rather than the common name

Surface Forms

Morphology

Amianthum + muscitoxicum

This is a technical Latin binomial name rather than a standard English phrase; its meaning (a highly toxic plant) depends on botanical/Latin knowledge rather than transparent combination of common English words. One constituent is undefined here and the other is a genus label, so an average B1 learner who only knows basic English vocabulary would not be able to derive the species’ meaning from the parts.

Etymology

Amianthum muscitoxicum may come from its parts: muscitoxicum joins a word for 'fly' and a word for 'poison', because people used the bulb as a fly poison. So the name helps remember that the plant is 'very poisonous'.